Whither Sri Lanka?: Post-Conflict Peace and Reconciliation

A country finally at peace after 26 years of war, Sri Lanka today faces the challenges of developing the war-torn north and east, and coming to terms with the violence and human rights abuses committed by both sides over the years. The UN Secretary General’s experts panel recently issued a report on accountability in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka’s own Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission has yet to report its own recommendations.

Asia Society Washington and The Serendipity Group are proud to present a US perspective on Sri Lanka today focusing on Sri Lanka two years after the end of the bloody conflict with the Tamil Tigers. The discussion will feature four current and former US Ambassadors to Colombo: Patricia A. Butenis, Ambassador to Sri Lanka from 2009 - Present, Ashley Wills, Ambassador to Sri Lanka from 2000-03, Shaun Donnelly, Ambassador to Sri Lanka from 1997-2000, and Teresita Schaffer, Ambassador to Sri Lanka from 1992-95, for a fascinating evening of discussion.
 

Ambassador Shaun Donnelly had a 36-year career in the United States Foreign Service, concentrating on international economic policy. After retiring from the Department of State's Foreign Service in 2008 at the personal rank of Career Minister, he served as Senior Director for International Business Policy at the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and as Vice President for Middle East Affairs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, two leading American business groups.

Ambassador Teresita C. Schaffer is a Senior Advisor with McLarty Associates. Prior to that, Ambassador Schaffer worked in the U.S. Foreign Service for over 30 years, and was one of the State Department's principal experts on South Asia. She was Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia from 1989 to 1992, the senior-most South Asia position in the department at the time, and U.S. ambassador to Sri Lanka from 1992 to 1995.

Ambassador Ashley Wills served in nine countries with the U.S. Information Agency and the State Department. After retiring from the F.S. at the end of 2005, he worked for an international law firm where he helped clients solve problems in their Asian operations. Since retiring from that private sector position, Wills has become a docent at two Smithsonian museums - Natural History and American History - and he is also a Tree Steward for Arlington County.